Tribunal upholds ban of ex-NAB-aligned adviser

The Administrative Appeals Tribunal has upheld a decision by ASIC banning a former Meritum Financial Group adviser from the financial services industry for five years.

The tribunal found that the five-year ban of former adviser and Meritum representative Alfie Chong was appropriate, citing the decision as relevant for "the protection of the public", and as a "reinforcement of the integrity and reputation of the financial services industry".

The tribunal received an application from Mr Chong on 22 February to lift the ban handed to him by ASIC for failing to adhere to the Corporations Act.

Mr Chong wrote in his application: "I dispute the ASIC decision to ban me from providing financial services for the period of 5 years, which was unfair, prejudice (sic), harsh and unreasonable especially [as] there was no client that have (sic) suffered any financial loss or any intention to defraud or acted (sic) dishonestly."